As you’ll soon find out, there are numerous options in the tactical flashlight market, and it can be a daunting task to shuffle through them before you find the right one.

Lucky for you, we have done much of that work for you, so read on to make the search process a lot easier. We’ve taken the time to sort through the many tactical flashlights for sale online, and the list below presents you with twelve of the best options and reviews available for 2018.

Tactical Flashlights Reviews – Best by Brands and Budget

J5 Tactical V1-PRO

It’s hard to debate the popularity of the J5 Tactical v1-PRO. First of all, it’s capable of putting out a whopping 300 lumens, which makes this above its expectations.

One of the best features is the flexibility it offers regarding power source. Basically, you can use either a single AA battery or a 14500 rechargeable battery on this product.

Designed to be tough, and stand up to just about anything you can throw its way; the J5 Tactical might surprise you with the kind of quality that it can deliver.

Keep in mind that the beam on this product might be smaller than expected, incase you’re looking for one with a wide-reaching beam.

If you want to learn more, then you can read our full review. We go a little bit more in-depth with the pros and cons of this item. Overall, this is one of our top choices for 2018.

SOLARAY PRO ZX-1 Professional Series Kit

For a tactical flashlight that lacks nothing in the way of lighting power, the SOLARAY PRO ZX-1 is a great model to consider. The Solaray Pro ZX-1 can produce 1200 lumens! That is an incredible amount of brightness, especially from a small unit.

Along with the overwhelming power of this light comes a long running time, a tactical security design with striking bezel, a rapid charger to refresh the 18650 3.7v 2400mAh lithium-ion battery, and more.

There is a total of five modes available when you use the Solaray Pro Zx-1, including high, medium, and low beam options. There is also an intruder strobe and SOS emergency signal. It is water-resistant, and the body of the unit is made from aircraft grade aluminum.

If you are hoping to find a tactical rechargeable flashlight that is capable of an immense amount of power from a body that is just over six inches long, the SOLARAY PRO ZX-1 will fit the bill nicely. Feel free to read our full review as well.

Vizeri LED

Quality is the name of the game when it comes to the Vizeri, and consumers will notice all of the little details that come together to make this an excellent choice.

One of the best features of the Vizeri is that it has five modes. It also runs on a variety of battery options, including AAA, CR123, or rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion batteries. The manufacturer also advertises that the product can be submerged up to a depth of three feet.

One nice touch that is added to the package by Vizeri is the inclusion of a couple of extra O-rings that can be used, as replacements for the flashlight. The O-ring is a common breakdown point on flashlights as time goes by, so Vizeri is thinking ahead by including extras for you to use down the line.

Not every tactical company goes to the trouble of taking care of its customers in this way, so that kind of service is something to take into consideration when deciding which tactical product will be your choice. If you want to learn more then visit our full review page.

Simon Cree

As with most of the products on this list, the Simon Cree Tactical LED offers a great set of features, including five operational settings, an aluminum body construction, 100,000 hours of use from the bulb, and 500 lumens of brightness.

Plenty of reviewers state that brightness will not disappoint from this tactical unit. Additionally, they appreciate the low setting that allows the user to turn down the overwhelming power when it is not needed (or wanted) for the task at hand.

Others note how this product is a great value, as most flashlights that offer this kind of power and build quality will are hard to find. Finally, users reported of the Simon Cree working properly even after dropping it countless of times. To pick up one that is durable, and bright, the Simon Cree LED warrants a closer inspection.

Outlite A100

The Outlie A100 can be used for different means. The very first key feature is that it is high-powered LED. Old flashlights tend to come with traditional bulb lighting, but this one is a break from the norm due to the fact that it embraces changes in technology. The LED that it comes with is very efficient and also features an output LED chip.

The second key feature is that it has a number of different modes. These modes allow you to change the lighting fixtures to exactly what you need at the moment.

For example, whether you would like to take advantage of an SOS light, a strobe light, a low, medium and high powered LED light, you can switch them up seamlessly whenever you like.

Features and Specifications

5 different lighting modes

It is built solidly with durable aluminum

Lightweight and features AAA batteries, which are inexpensive and easy to find

In lieu of AAA batteries, it comes equipped with a 3.7 V battery, so you have options

Streamlight 88040 ProTac HL

The Streamlight 88040 Pro HL is an advanced tac flashlight intended for use in both everyday situations and extreme situations alike.

The lowest setting is 35 lumens that stretches out 60 meters, which is not fantastically powerful, but it is adequate to illuminate a small dark area – enough for a human being to be able to see.

At its strongest, it can generate up to 750 lumens of luminosity that reaches to a range of 270 meters, perfect for lighting up a dark area with little to no available lighting coming from anywhere else.

Best Features

Weighs 5.6 ounces and measures 5.2 X 1.4 X 1.4 inches.

The device runs on 2 CR123A batteries.

Constructed of aircraft aluminum.

The tac device is incredibly power efficient and at its lowest setting can last for up to eighteen hours. Even at its highest setting, it can last for around an hour on a single set of batteries. You can check out the full review here.

Fenix PD35 2015 TAC Edition

Capable of generating up to 1000 lumens with a powerful white LED light, a number of professionals in many fields consider the Fenix PD35 TAC 1000 to be a valuable companion in a potentially dangerous situation.

The Fenix PD35 TAC 1000 uses a CREE-XPL (V5) LED bulb that will last up to 50,000 hours before burning out. The item comes with two EdisonBright lithium-ion batteries so users can get to work right away if they need to. On top of that, it features a momentary ‘on’-switch situated in the back of the tail.

Nitecore EC4S 2150

One of the primary features is its uni-body construction, which makes it incredibly durable. It’s also made up of Aero grade aluminum alloy, which not only offers maximum durability, but it’s also light in weight.

This particular product offers up to 2150 Lumens. It features a beam distance of 280 meters and 306 yards. Because of its high-efficiency current, it is able to deliver a maximum of 325 hours of run time which equates to a full 13.54 days of use.

The Nitecore EC4S 2150 has the ability to stream through 5 different brightness levels including; Ultra low, Low, Mid, High, and Turbo.

Overall, this is one of the clear-cut value options within the marketplace. Not only does it offer the highest level of functionality for its price, it also offers a consistent experience, great range, and excellent runtime without sacrificing its attributes.

SureFire G2X Series

The primary feature of this tac light is its ability to produce an output of 320 lumens for maximum light. For tasks that do not require as much light, it can reduce its output to an efficient but effective 15-lumen beam which can provide a significant amount of battery life savings for tasks that still require light, but not a full 320 lumens.

The SureFire G2X comes with a tough Nitrolon body, while also featuring a bezel made up of anodized aluminum. This, along with it’s extremely tough polycarbonate window allows for the light itself to be able to absorb huge impacts.

Another feature is its tailcap click switch which you can either short press for a brief output of light or completely push down to provide consistent light output. This makes it a very easy to use LED light for various tasks that either require short bursts of light or a consistent light beam.

Olight M20-X Warrior

The very first key feature is the number of different strobe outputs. The light itself is energy efficient and eco-friendly. Another great reason why the LED light is useful is that it will not get warm to the touch no matter how often you switch it on.

The next important feature is the body. When you want to get the most out of a tac flashlight, you need to make sure that it is solidly built and durable. It features hard anodized aluminum and is resistant to scratches. This way, you don’t have to worry about dropping it and depending on what you’re using the M20-X for, it can double as a powerful self-defense tool.

Features And Specifications

The specifications are vast for this product because it is equipped with a lot of bells and whistles, including the following:

Helotex G2 CREE

This product provides a sophisticated LED light that burns significantly less energy than other types of lights. It is a tri-mode flashlight, which means that it has three different light settings. These light settings include high beam lights, low beam lights, and strobe lights.

The second key feature of this product is its dual power capability. This means that it is equipped with a battery, but you can also adopt and choose to use one AA battery instead. The battery that is included is the CR 123 battery. The Helotex is known for getting significant battery life, as referenced below.

Features And Specifications

A substantial battery life of 50,000 hours

The ability to switch between an AA battery, which receives an hour on a full charge and the CR 123 battery, which runs for 2 hours on a full charge

Buyers Guide

Tactical flashlights bring to mind the heavy and bright lights carried by hunters, campers or security guards. If you are in the habit of going hiking, camping or taking hunting trips, then you’re probably familiar with this type of flashlight.

Not only are these best for emergency situations, they also come in handy in day to day life. Hopefully, our reviews helped give you some better understanding of each product.

In fact, tactical flashlights are handy tools you should have with you to keep you prepared for unexpected situations.

From finding a dropped key in the yard to locating things in poor lighting situations, flashlights provide invaluable help. Most people think that these flashlights are only useful for tactical conditions, which is just not true.

Most often, when people think of a flashlight, a bulky object with a huge light usually comes to mind; that is also not true. With the tremendous advancements in technology you see these days, they come in all sizes and shapes.

Whether you are looking for a sturdy and huge flashlight or a compact pocket-sized model or something in between, you can find it easily.

The LED bulbs have made it easier for manufacturers to design lights that are brighter, efficient and smaller, so you can have a small flashlight that is as powerful as a larger one but at an affordable price, and with an eco-friendly option.

Like any other purchase, you have to consider things like budget, features, quality, longevity, portability, etc. which needs to be looked into before you settle on the perfect one that suits your needs. From the outset, this task may seem too intimidating to accomplish.

We have put together this buyer’s guide. With the guidance in this article, you will be able to consider all aspects of purchasing the best one for you. In order to have a better understanding of our product reviews, we’ll want to start with the basics first.

How is a Military Tac Flashlight Different?

For one, tactical flashlights are made of sturdier material. They can withstand the elements and rough situations effortlessly. The best thing is that they are loaded with features such as multiple lighting modes and lumens, as well as a strong grip.

When some hear the word tactical, they think of combat, war, etc. In flashlights, the term tactical is used to describe the lights utilized for conflict, war, or other emergency situations. Which explains the sturdy quality of the flashlights in contrast to the typical household models.

Tactical flashlights are made of aircraft grade aluminum. They are entirely shockproof to enable easy mounting on weapons. They are small and have some degree of waterproofing. In other words, these are built to endure the most rugged conditions.

The military flashlights also emit powerful (some of the strongest) light, as combat situations necessitate the ability to see clearly. They can also be used as self-defense, shining the bright light in an intruder’s face can temporarily blind them.

In flashlights, Lumens is the unit used to measure brightness. While LEDs are commonly used, some products also have xenon bulbs or incandescent bulbs but those are used rarely.

LEDs are popular because they last longer – for about 50,000 hours to be exact, which amounts to more than five years, and are shock-resistant due to their absence of filament. There are tac flashlights out there that are extremely bright. If that’s something you’re looking for then check out this article on the world’s brightest LED flashlights for 2018.

Size

The size and its features depend on what you will use it for, and how often. If you need it for routine use, look for a size that is not too big that it disrupts your work. Find the right ratio of power and size that fits best for you. Here are a few sizes to consider:

Mini: These lights range between 2 and 3 inches. These use a single battery of AA or AAA size and have around 250 Lumens in burst mode. Any flashlight less than 3 inches cannot be used as a weapon as your hand will cover it completely. There are microlights too, which are less than two inches and used in keychain lights.

Small: This is less than four inches and has deeper reflectors, tail switches, and a single battery. This can function as a weapon and throws light farther than the mini version.

Medium: Ranging from 4 to 6 inches these flashlights have two batteries and high lumens. You can use these as weapon easily.

Large: This is more than 6 inches with a bezel of small diameter. You can easily keep it inside a holster. Law enforcement personnel find this size appropriate as it can act as an additional weapon.

Body (Quality)

For a durable one, the first thing to observe is the sturdiness and quality of the material. High-quality material ensures the flashlight will last longer and give the proper weight needed.

Aluminum (Anodized): This is the material used in most of the flashlights in use now. Type III or Type II Anodized aluminum is preferred over other models.

Stainless Steel: This is very durable but can be too heavy.

Titanium: This is light in weight and strong like stainless steel. The only drawback is its cost.

Composites or Plastic: Usually, tactical flashlights made of plastics are not the best quality. But a few manufacturers make really good composite flashlights.

Why Should You Buy One?

According to our review, tactical flashlights are typically made best for use in rough terrain and emergency situations as mentioned above.

In fact, a flashlight is something that you should always have with you next to the pocket knife. Here are some of the instances where they can come in handy in 2018:

Poor Lighting Situations

Based on our reviews, this is the most common reason for purchasing any type of tactical flashlight. With one in hand, you will be able to pass any poorly lighted area like a dark parking lot or alley.

In case of power outages your home or office, flashlights provide much-needed illumination. All of these are considered tactical conditions.

The products that are available these days are so powerful that they can illuminate objects that are several feet away.

Find Things Easily

Losing things at home or other places is a part of life, let’s face it.

Dropping your keys, pen, phone or any other object under a bed or couch, desk or behind a dresser can happen anytime. A flashlight will prove to be a godsend in many such situations, which can delay an important meeting or event.

Self-Protection

Present day flashlights are created to give many an advantage to a person in a war or combat scenario.

The sturdy aluminum casing serves the flashlight as a hard striking tool.

The bezels are designed to help a user break faces or windows easily.

And having a sturdy object on hand to use as a weapon makes it more powerful.

The powerful illuminating source blinds the opponent effectively, giving you an advantage which doubles with the flashlight acting as a weapon. This potent combo can make you inflict severe damage on anyone attacking you.

Police Flashlights

Speaking of self-defense, there are specific products that are best for police officers. If you’re in law enforcement, then you know how vital these tactical accessories are.

All types of criminal activity take place during the night, so you know how important it is to have a tactical flashlight. You’ll want to make sure you have one that is the perfect size, quality, and weight whenever you’re on duty.

Survival

In case of natural disasters, power outages are common. If an intruder is trying to harm you, having a flashlight that you can use to see when it is dark or to blind a person, makes it a very valuable and lifesaving tactical tool.

Rescue and tactical situations require a flashlight for search operations.

They’re also best used for sending signals in dire situations. In fact, there are special search and rescue flashlights that have an integrated SOS and flashing beacon modes.

Nighttime Security

Since the tactical flashlight emits powerful luminosity due to higher lumens, it is best for security at night. When compared to the ordinary flashlights, which have lumens ranging from 8 to 22, tactical lights have lumens that start from 90.

Such powerful beams are capable of disorienting attackers or rendering them blind for a few seconds, which is sufficient to make you escape or defend.

Using a Flashlight During Household Chores

According to our reviews and experiences, tactical flashlights help in all areas and in other new aspects too.

Due to the solid build, these can withstand rough use that the ordinary plastic flashlights cannot tolerate.

Being waterproof, it can help fix those leaks under the kitchen sink or bathroom without fear of getting it wet and damaged.

Due to the powerful aluminum body, it can withstand drops from any height.

Different Types

Everyday Carry Tactical Flashlights

If you’re always on the go, then having a tactical edc (everyday carry) is your best option.

These types come in handy especially when you lose something in your car, or in a very dark area. They’re handy in your daily life. Although this is something you can carry every day, it’s best to have the appropriate clothing; such as having bigger pockets.

The flashlights are close to being weightless and are small to enable routine use. Because they’re so compact and easy to use, you’ll have no problem in carrying one in your bag, backpack or even your pocket.

Top Features:

Small Military Flashlights

Keychain Flashlights

While not as powerful as your typical tactical flashlight, these keychains are small, easy to carry and ideal to have around in your day to day life. They’re near being weightless and small to enable routine use.

If you wouldn’t use one as often, but would still like to have one around for just in case, a tactical keychain is ideal for you.

The best thing about having one is that they can fit in a pocket or a purse. Another great flashlight to have whenever you’re in a unique situation, such as dropping your phone during a late night hike.

Something to consider if you’re looking to get a keychain flashlight is that it’s easy to charge. The ones that are easy have a USB charge so that way there’s no cell removal. These are compact and convenient which make sit perfect for most situations in which you’d need extra lighting.

Key features:

Penlights

According to our reviews, penlights are brighter, which can also be used to blind a potential attacker temporarily. Additionally, these lights are more versatile in comparison to other flashlights. For instance, you can use the penlights for navigation, seeking for help, or for self-defense.

Another significant advantage of having a penlight is it’s similar to a keychain flashlight.

Penlights fit in your pocket, bag, backpack, etc. They’re ideal to have at all times, especially if you’re often in dangerous situations. They’re similar to tactical keychains in regards to size but are more powerful and a lot brighter. Overall, penlights are a compact way to always in any situation and at any time.

For Adventurers

Hunting Survival Flashlight

Hunters, fishermen and other adventurers may be the people who use flashlights the most, next to members of law enforcement. For hunters, it’s best to have a precise and bright flashlight that can help them locate their target.

If you’re into hunting, you’ll appreciate a flashlight illuminating your way around the woods as well as being highly helpful when setting-up camp for the night.

Another important quality to look for if you’re a hunter is its battery life. These types mostly used by hunters, are reliable and won’t ever leave you in the dark. They’re often waterproof and made of drop resistant materials.

Key features:

Rechargeable

Buying new batteries can be a hassle for a lot of people, especially if you have to replace a dead battery during an emergency. A tactical rechargeable flashlight might be your best choice. All you have to do is charge it at home or even a car charger (hopefully you have a USB port).

You want to make sure that you get one that charges fast, has a long battery life and also the right amount of brightness. The rechargeable flashlights that we recommend are the ones that tell you when the battery is low as well!

Again, you don’t want to be out in the woods and your flashlight dies out of nowhere. Unlike a tactical standard flashlight, a rechargeable one can’t just die all of a sudden but will let you know when its battery is nearly empty. This way you know how much time you have left and can plan accordingly.

A rechargeable flashlight is only useful when it is charged. Just like our phones, we tend to forget to charge them. For this reason, always keep it fully charged and ready to use. If you forget, don’t expect it to last you a long time.

Key features:

Convenient

Save time and money

Reliable

Compact Flashlight

Compact flashlights are known to be small and depending on the quality, reliable. Typically, these are good if you want to find a keyhole, pave a pathway at dark, or find something that you’ve lost such as your wallet.

Keep in mind that these types are not best for sustaining high outputs for a long period of time. It’s not practical for a compact flashlight to put out a high brightness level. However, these products are great for you to carry on a day to day basis.

Compact flashlights are for daily use but only for a short time. Precisely, they’ll perform well if you need to find your keys, or whatever you’re looking for, but won’t be of much use when you need a super bright flashlight to be on for hours at the time.

Key Features:

Pistol Flashlight

Also known as a handgun flashlight, this tactical light can be mounted directly to a weaver rail, Picatinny or Handgun.

Some considerations include:

It should be reliable, especially when you are using it in dire situations.

Since the point where you are focusing the light on is also where the pistol is directed at, you should be very careful while using the light. It is best to use the flashlight only when the gun is out.

The pistol flashlight should be durable and withstand the shots you fire from your pistol. It should not get damaged after just a few shots.

The light should be mounted either below the pistol’s barrel or to the side of the pistol.
High-quality pistols have the option of substituting the tail cap with a pressure switch to enable easy use of the flashlight.

Industry Standards

When you know what the standards signify, you can easily recognize whether the product is good or not.

Light output

The standard light output rating indicates the lumens amount emitted by a flashlight.

Runtime

The runtime denotes the duration taken by the flashlight to reach 10 % of the initial output. For instance, if a tactical device began with 100 Lumens, the runtime is the time duration when the continuous light requires reducing to a level of 10 Lumens.

Beam distance

This distance measured in meters indicates the distance a beam covers to reach an intensity of 0.25 lux. This intensity is the same as light intensity on a clear full moon night.

Peak intensity of beam

This indicates the beam point at its brightest. Candela is the unit in which beam intensity is measured.

Impact Resistance

This measurement in meters indicates the height from which a flashlight can be dropped on concrete floor without disturbing its function and physical form.

Water resistance

This measurement has three IP levels:

IPX8: The flashlight that receives this rating can perform in a submerged state at a depth of more than one meter for the duration of nearly four hours.

IPX7: The flashlight receiving this rating can perform well at a depth of one meter below water for about 30 minutes.

IPX4: This rating is given for a flashlight performing well when it gets splashed with water.

Top Features

Now that you are familiar with the uses and standards you should verify, checking the features is the next important part. Because of their specialized uses, tactical flashlights have features that are different from conventional ones. Typically, there are three main components that include the tail cap, battery compartment and LED housing.

Light Settings

Most tactical flashlights have two main types of settings for light intensity. A low and high-level setting.

Low setting: This provides light of the lowest intensity and is best for saving battery

High setting: Provides the strongest level and naturally drains battery

Medium setting: In some models medium setting which has a light intensity level between the two is present.

Multiple settings: Some are designed with 10 different intensity levels, which you can change using a dial. But the brighter the intensity you opt for, the more it will drain the battery.

So, it is recommended to have only the intensity level you need. This way, you will not have your flashlight running out on you when you need it the most.

Special Modes

In addition to the usual settings, most flashlights (tactical) have three special modes namely, SOS, Beacon, and Strobe.

Strobe

This is added in some flashlights to conceal the movements of the user or to misdirect attackers or to disorient a person. The light is super-fast and bright with a frequently changing pattern designed to confuse a potential attacker.

SOS

SOS mode is used during emergency situations. This becomes best in handy when you get stranded during a camping trip or a survival condition.

Beacon

This mode has a full bright light blinking once every two or three seconds. This is best for survival/tactical situations when you want to be identified. This mode also saves battery life.

Battery Life

Based on the tactical model and make, you can find different battery models. Batteries are mostly either disposable or rechargeable.

Disposable batteries: low end products typically have disposable batteries. The two types are Alkaline and Lithium batteries.

Alkaline disposable batteries

These are the conventional batteries used routinely in AA, AAA, D and C types. You cannot expect the best power from these types in-comparison to other batteries, but these are easily available.

Survival teams usually prefer such standard batteries due to their ready availability. The batteries have a two-year shelf life.

Lithium Disposable Batteries

These batteries may look similar to alkaline models but are different because they have more energy storage and power. And these are light in weight.

The best thing about lithium batteries is that shelf life is 10 years, so survivalists/tactical enthusiasts find these ideal.

The only drawback is they are expensive when compared to alkaline batteries. CR2 and CR123a are two special battery types in this category used frequently in most models.

These are not to be confused with the rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries.

Rechargeable Batteries

As mentioned previously, most of the high end and medium grade batteries are rechargeable.

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are available in various sizes and the RCR123A, 18500 and 18650 are the types used commonly in tactical models. Advantages include high power output and recharge facility. The expensive price and the need for a charger are drawbacks.

It’s best to go for the rechargeable batteries, as they offer a greener option. But in some cases, disposable batteries are quite useful.

Integrate Rechargeable Types

This is a special battery that is custom made. You can remove the battery from the tactical LED flashlight or just plug it directly into a socket for recharging it. While these are very useful, when the battery drains, you may have to wait for it to be fully charged before you can use it.

Final Thoughts

Picking out the best tactical flashlight for your needs isn’t a simple task. There are plenty of great manufacturers offering quality products, and each has a unique set of benefits to offer. Some provide flashlights that excel in providing raw lighting power while others set the bar for durable body construction, various settings, waterproof design, and more.

The category of ‘tactical flashlight’ is a popular one that is quickly growing, but it doesn’t specifically define a use for the light. That is going to be your job. TWith the right light in hand, you can feel confident that you will be able to shine a bright light on any dark situation that you may encounter down the road. We hope that you enjoyed reading our tactical flashlight reviews for 2018.

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